Drive Belt-Water

OuttyOwner · #1 (**permalink**) 05-02-2011, 11:13 AM

So I went on a ride with a bunch of people and one of my best friends has a brand new Arctic Cat 550. We he goes tearing into a hole and gets it sunk in mud and water where the left side is almost completely submerbed and had to use the winch to pull him out. It starts up but will barely move. We had to tip it back, remove a guard, and unscrew a plug to let all the water run out where the belt is so it could dry. Once it dried, it ran but he said it still wasn't 100% right but was getting better after Ileft. Is this something I have to look forward to? Is there a plug I can removed to drain water so the belt isn't slipping if I do the same thing?

OuttyOwner · #2 (**permalink**) 05-03-2011, 08:55 AM

Uh, any comment? That is scary...is this a sore subject with Can Am owners? Hoping this is such an uncommon occourrence nobody has even heard of it! Maybe?

**1Bad1000Xxc** · #3 (**permalink**) 05-03-2011, 02:29 PM

Getting water in the CVT housing is gonna happen sometimes if you get your quad too deep. Who is to say the root cause of his. It could either be he got the Cat deep enough that it went in through the factory snorkle, or that the CVT housing did not have a good seal on it.

I have an 09 Renegade 800X and during the summer, we do a LOT of creek riding. My quad is snorkled and I have never gotten water in the belt housing. As long as you are aware of where your CVT intake snorkel is, and make sure your belt housing bolts stay tight, you should be safe.

The can-ams do not have a drain plug on them like say for example, the Yamaha grizzly 700's do. Many people have drilled a hole in the bottom of the CVT housing in a position where the belt cannot hit it and inserted a tire valve stem in there so they can easily drain water if they need to. I've not done it myself but did consider it once to make it easy to remove water without having to pull the cover off. I've never had to though.

Buster

**1Bad1000Xxc** · #4 (**permalink**) 05-03-2011, 02:31 PM

Also, to ease your mind, this isn't a scarey situation. It happens to people that get in water a lot. Water gets in, the belt starts slipping. You drain it, continue on your way and the heat and friction dries it right quickly.

OuttyOwner · #5 (**permalink**) 05-03-2011, 03:57 PM

So pulling to cover off is how you fix it? Guess I better make sure I got the tools for that too! Thank you sir!

**1Bad1000Xxc** · #6 (**permalink**) 05-04-2011, 08:57 AM

That'll get 'er dun!

Back Traxx · #7 (**permalink**) 07-13-2011, 10:47 AM

What year and model is your machine?

OuttyOwner · #8 (**permalink**) 07-14-2011, 01:21 PM

09 Outlander 800 XT

OuttyOwner · #9 (**permalink**) 08-15-2011, 03:29 PM

Just to update, it's been a problem the last few times we went out. We have a couple areas where we ride through water and mud and the belt has begun slipping. THis past Sat I ran through and it barely had enough to pull itself out of the hole. Then I spend about 15 minutes driving around slowly trying to get it to dry out. Not much fun when all the old Hondas I'm riding with can run around all day in the water and I have to pick and choose where and when I will. Is there anythign I can try to keep this sealed up better? I can't wait for winter when I can use the excuse to stay dry to stay out of the mud and water....

**1Bad1000Xxc** · #10 (**permalink**) 08-16-2011, 08:31 PM

It sounds to me like you need to pull the clutch cover off and see if it shows signs of leakage around the clutch cover seal. If so, either buy a new seal or put a small bead of silicone on it and seal it back up.

Some people actually drill a hole in the bottom of the clutch cover and put a valve stem in it so they can easily drain water without having to remove the cover. But, you need to first figure out where the water is getting in.

I have a 2009 Renegade and do a lot of deep water creek riding. I've never gotten water in my clutch nor do any of my friends with Outlanders that ride in mud pits.

I would guess your cover seal is the problem.

Buster